Debris Collector

ABSTRACT

A collection device (10) comprising a receptacle (20) defining a collection chamber (21) with an entrance opening (22) and an exit opening (23). A door (24) is movable from a closed position whereat it covers the exit opening (23) and unclosed condition whereat it uncovers the exit opening (23). When the door (24) is in its closed position, constituents can be conveyed into the collection chamber (21) through the entrance opening (22. And when the door (24) is in its unclosed position, constituents (11) within the collection chamber (21) can be emptied through the exit opening (23) into a separate container, such as a trash can.

BACKGROUND

The task of “sweeping the floor” is typically accomplished by collecting constituents (e.g., crumbs, scraps, dust, debris, etc.) in the collection chamber of a receptacle (e.g., a dustpan) and then emptying the collected constituents into a separate container. Constituents can be collected by conveying (e.g., sweeping) them through an entrance opening communicating with the collection chamber. The emptying of the collected constituents within the chamber is commonly accomplished by them exiting through the entrance opening.

SUMMARY

A collection device is provided wherein the receptacle has an exit opening (distinct from its entrance opening) which communicates the collection chamber. A door is selectively movable between a closed position and unclosed position. In the closed position, it covers the exit opening whereby constituents conveyed into the collection chamber will not escape therethrough. In the unclosed position, it uncovers the exit opening whereby constituents can be emptied therethrough.

DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C shows the collection device being used to collect constituents and then deposit them in a separate container.

FIGS. 2A-2F show top, bottom, front, rear, and side views of the collection device in a constituent-collecting condition.

FIGS. 3A-3F show top, bottom, front, rear and side views of the collection device when in a constituent-emptying condition.

DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1A-1C, a collection device 10 is shown for collecting constituents 11 from a surface 12. The collection device 10 is shown in a constituent-collecting condition in FIG. 1A and the collection device 10 is shown in a constituent-emptying condition in FIG. 1C. In FIG. 1B, the collection device 10 is shown in a transitional condition between the constituent-collecting and constituent-emptying conditions. The constituents 11 can comprise crumbs, scraps, dust, or other debris. The surface 12 can be a relatively flat horizontal surface and, more specifically, a floor. The separate container 13 can comprise a trash or other refuse vessel. The collection step (FIG. 1A) can be performed with the help of a broom or other sweeping implement 14.

Referring now additionally to the second and third sets of drawings (FIGS. 2A-2F and FIGS. 3A-3F), the collection device 10 comprises a receptacle 20 defining a collection chamber 21. An entrance opening 22 communicates with the collection chamber 21 and a separate exit opening 22 also communicates with the collection chamber 21. In the chamber-collecting condition shown in FIG. 1A and in the second set for drawings, constituents 11 would be swept or otherwise conveyed into the chamber 21 through the entrance opening 22. In the chamber-emptying condition shown in FIG. 1C and in the third set of drawings, the constituents 11 are emptied from the chamber 21 through the exit opening 23.

The receptacle 20 comprises a door 24 which is movable between a closed position and an unclosed position. When the collection device 10 is in its constituent-collecting condition (FIG. 1A and FIGS. 2A-2F), the door 24 covers the exit opening 23 whereby the collected constituents in the chamber 21 are contained therewithin. When the collection device 10 is in its constituent-emptying condition (FIG. 1C and FIGS. 3A-3F), the door 24 uncovers the exit opening 23 whereby the collected constituents can be emptied therefrom.

The receptacle 20 can be formed by a wall structure 30 which is made of plastic, wood, metal, or any other suitable material. The wall structure 30 can be formed in one piece. Or it can be formed in multiple pieces which are bolted, nailed, screwed, glued, welded, soldered, or otherwise assembled together. Some of the receptacle walls, and more particularly some of the receptacle's chamber-defining walls, may be movable relative to each other for conversion of the collection device between its constituent-collecting condition and its constituent-emptying condition.

In the illustrated receptacle 20, the wall structure 30 comprises walls 31-36. For ease in explanation, orientational modifiers (e.g., front, rear, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, lateral, etc.) can used to identify these walls 31-36, with these modifiers corresponding to the receptacle 20 in its constituent-collection condition. With this convention, the receptacle's wall structure 30 includes rear walls 31-32, a top wall 33, a bottom wall 34, and lateral walls 35-36.

The collection chamber 21 is defined by the rear walls 31-32, the top wall 33, a rear region of the bottom wall 34, and rear regions of the lateral walls 35-36. The entrance opening 22 is defined by the forward edge of the top wall 33, an aligned route on the bottom wall 34, and perpendicular paths on the lateral walls 35-36. The exit opening 23 is defined by the rearmost edges of the rear walls 31-32, the rear edge of the top wall 33, and the rear edge of the bottom wall 34.

The door 24 is permanently attached to, and extends perpendicularly downward from, the rear edge of the top wall 33. The door 24 is sized and shaped so as to cover the exit opening 23 when in its closed position.

The front lateral edges of the top wall 33 are movably attached to aligned regions of the lateral walls 35-36 with pivoting fasteners 41-42 (e.g., hinges). These fasteners 41-42 allow the top wall 33 to pivot from an orientation approximately parallel with the bottom wall 34 to a perpendicular or otherwise nonparallel orientation. The door 24 correspondingly moves from its exit-covering position to its exit-uncovering position, thereby allowing the collected constituents to exit through the opening 23.

The collection device 10 and/or the receptacle 20 can be designed so that the entrance opening 22 is wider and/or higher than the exit opening 23. In this manner, constituents 11 are easily conveyed into the collection container 21 as the entrance opening 22 can provide a wide mouth for this conveyance. At the same time, constituents 11 can be easily emptied into what may be a narrow inlet in the separate container 13. The entrance opening 22 can thereby be adapted to accommodate the most efficient broom span, while the exit opening 23 can be adapted to accommodate the inlet of the desired container 13.

Additionally or alternatively, the movable door 24 allows the convenience of the distinct exit opening 23 without compromising the constituent-capturing ability of the chamber 21. The movement of the door 24 can be caused by manual interaction by the operator, such as a tug or push on the appropriate part. And/or door movement can be caused by gravity with, for example, the fasteners 41-42 being designed so that wall weight will automatically open the door 24 when the collection device 10 is moved to the constituent-emptying condition shown in FIG. 1C. In either or any case, door movement is accomplished without electricity, without hydraulics, and without special tools.

The collection device 10 can further comprise a post 50 secured to and extending upward from the receptacle 20. When the collection device 10 is in its constituent-collection condition (FIG. 1A), the post 50 can be used to urge the bottom wall 34 flush against the floor 12. When the collection device 10 is in its constituent-emptying condition (FIG. 1C), the post 50 can be used to space the operator from the container 13 and the constituents being emptied thereinto. And when the collection device 10 is in its transition condition (FIG. 1C), the post 50 can be used to carry the receptacle from the collection site to the emptying site. Accordingly, the post 50 could be sized and shaped to perform these functions.

Although the collection device 10, the receptacle 20, the wall structure 30, the fasteners 41-42, and/or the post 50 have been shown and described with respect to certain embodiments, these examples are not quintessential. For example, the collection device 10 need not be used only to collect unwanted debris, as it may also prove useful in amassing valuable constituents 11 for processing and/or resale. Additionally, the surface 12 need not be horizontal and/or need not be flat. Further, the relative sizing of the entrance and exit openings 22-23 can be increased or decreased to accommodate the circumstances. These and other modifications, adjustments, alterations, variations, adaptions are possible within the scope of the claims. 

1. A collection device (10) for collection of constituents (11) from a surface (12) and emptying them into a separate container (13); said collection device (10) comprising a receptacle (20) defining a collection chamber (21) and comprising: an entrance opening (22) communicating with collection chamber (21), an exit opening (23) communicating with the collection chamber (21), and a door (24) movable from a closed position whereat it covers the exit opening (23) and unclosed condition whereat it uncovers the exit opening (23); wherein, when the door (24) is in its closed position, constituents (11) can be conveyed into the collection chamber (21) through the entrance opening (22); and wherein, when the door (24) is in its unclosed position, constituents (11) within the collection chamber (21) can be emptied through the exit opening (23) to the separate container (13).
 2. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the movement of the door (24) between the closed position and the unclosed position is accomplished without electricity, without hydraulics, and without special tools.
 3. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 2, wherein the movement of the door (24) between its closed position and its unclosed position is accomplished manually.
 4. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 2, wherein the movement of the door (24) between its closed position and its unclosed position is accomplished with the help of gravity.
 5. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the entrance opening (22) is wider and/or higher than the exit opening (23).
 6. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the receptacle (20) is formed from a wall structure (30) including chamber-defining walls (31-36) and wherein some of these walls are movable relative to each other.
 7. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 6, wherein the receptacle (20) comprises pivotal fasteners (41-42) movably attaching walls together.
 8. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 6, wherein the wall structure (30) comprises rear walls (31-32), a top wall (33), a bottom wall (34), and lateral walls (35-36).
 9. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 8, wherein collection chamber (21) is defined by the rear walls (31-32), the a top wall (33), a rear region of the bottom wall (34), and rear regions of the lateral walls (35-36).
 10. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 9, wherein the entrance opening (22) is defined by a forward edge of the top wall (33), an aligned route on the bottom wall (34), and connecting paths on the lateral walls (35-36).
 11. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 10, wherein the exit opening (23) is defined by rearmost edges of the rear walls (31-32), a rear edge of the top wall (33), and a rear edge of the bottom wall (34).
 12. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 11, wherein the door (24) is permanently attached to, and extends perpendicularly downward from, the rear edge of the top wall (33).
 13. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 12, wherein front lateral edges of the top wall (33) are movably attached to aligned regions of the lateral walls (35-36) with pivoting fasteners (41-42).
 14. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 13, wherein the pivoting fasteners (41-42) are hinges.
 15. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 14, wherein the movement of the door (24) between its closed position and its unclosed position is accomplished manually.
 16. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 14, wherein the movement of the door (24) between its closed position and its unclosed position is accomplished with the help of gravity.
 17. A collection device (10) as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a post (50) attached to the receptacle (20).
 18. A method of using the collection device (10) set forth in claim 1, comprising the step of: conveying constituents (11) on a surface (12) through the entrance opening (22) into the collection chamber (21); and emptying constituents (11) from the collection chamber (21) through the exit opening (23); wherein said constituent-conveying step is performed when the door (24) is in its closed condition; and wherein said constituent-emptying step is performed when the door (24) is in its unclosed condition.
 19. A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said constituent-conveying step is performed with a broom (14).
 20. A method as set forth in claim 19), wherein said constituent-emptying step comprises emptying the constituents (11) into a separate container (13). 